Major flaw threatens Windows PCs

net1

Microsoft published on Tuesday a patch for a major security flaw in its software's handling of the JPEG graphics format and urged customers to use a new tool to locate the many applications that are vulnerable, ZDNet reports.

The critical flaw has to do with how Microsoft's operating systems and other software process the widely used JPEG image format and could let attackers create an image file that would run a malicious program on a victim's computer as soon as the file is viewed. Because the software giant's Internet Explorer browser is vulnerable, Windows users could fall prey to an attack just by visiting a Web site that has affected images.

The severity of the flaw had some security experts worried that a virus that exploits the issue may be on the way.

"The potential is very high for an attack," said Craig Schmugar, virus research manager for security software company McAfee.

BGonaSTICK

Thank goodness jpeg files aren't at all common on the internet.

Had me worried there for a minute...